Computers and the internet have revolutionized modern society to such an extent that life is being lived on fast and faster tracks, where no part of society has been left untouched, so pervasive is the influence of computers. While high tech signifies both the birth and death of speeding lifestyles, all one has to do is sit back and enjoy the wild ride.

There is no end to business advantages when it comes to computers and the internet. Websites are established, advertising is done with a blink of an eye, where conference calls and daily trips via an airplane are fast becoming a thing of the past. Virtual reality is just that. When money can be transferred with a click of the button, there is little need for physical presence when it comes to business dealings.The computer has it all covered.

The computer geek is now the new quarterback on the football team. With his/her mental prowess, what he/she lacks in physical attractiveness has been transferred to potential powers of a computer. The American Dream has been realized many times over as now, any teenager with tech know-how can become the next Bill Gates or surpass him in the billions. Such is the influence of computers on society.

Social networking has never been as easy or as prevalent as now. A person can choose to be as anonymous or as overt as one wants on Facebook, Twitter, Tweet, etc.  When it is possible to speak with someone from halfway across the world, have an internet affair, to participate in cyber bullying, or to find a significant other and marry them, the parameters of computers seem infinite. All this within the comforts of one’s home or office.

However, accessibility of the worldwide web has brought its own set of evils. There is no longer any such thing as personal privacy.  Whether one knows it or not “Everyone knows your name..”, what you do, where you go and where you live. With every click of the mouse, one is being followed, possibly stalked by advertisers. If “everyone knows your name”, then anyone can steal one’s name, and a new form of crime has evolved, that of identity theft.

With the influence of computers on society comes a new kind of violence - cyber bullying. Where young people can vent their anger through vindictive acts of lewd pictures or embarrassing acts, the computer gives venue for teenagers to send untruths or truths through the internet grapevine, providing background for more sinister persons such as child predators or serial murderers.

The computer and all gadgets spawned from it have become the new status symbol, especially for the younger generation. Problem with this is acquisition of material things become never-ending, as each new product becomes obsolete and the ability to keep up with the Jones becomes a battle for who gets there first. There is much pressure on young people to be the first, to own, and to belong socially.

The newest pressure to belong is now recognized by Facebook as a social phenomenon. When one’s life is out there for family and friends to see, there is need to look good, pretend one has a more exciting life, and superficiality becomes paramount in order to stand out.  Especially for young people who have a need to succeed, it is a very stressful thing, to measure up on Facebook.

The most regrettable influence of computers on society is the death of cursive writing. While grandparents and great-grandparents own the beautiful flowing writing of their era, future generations will be subjected to an inability to write long-hand, spell, or to type properly. With two-digit dexterity to tweet and twitter, short-hand has definitely become a language on its own for communication, both oral and written.

The computer’s influence on society is undeniable as people become more and more dependent on its capabilities. A day without the computer is like a day without sunshine. People can no longer do without it in some form, as laptops migrate with the traveler, and some form of hand-held gadget must accompany one’s every move. Computers have invaded and attempts to stop this forward movement would be futile.  An imagined total crash would mean the end of net traffic, a complete stop to business/trading, and most of all the world would stop functioning, as the end of computers would mean the end of life.